Founded in 1949 in the heart of San Diego, USD has grown to become a premier institution dedicated to providing academic excellence, Catholic intellectual and social traditions, and a top-notch liberal arts education for scholars of all faiths. USD is committed to the intellectual, spiritual, and overall development of its student body.

USD’s mission captures the values that have made it a prominent Catholic university, a vibrant institution of quality higher education, and an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.

A USD education combines the vibrancy of the liberal arts with academic rigor in a supportive learning community. USD offers a wide variety of majors and specializations, allowing students to pursue their passions. Faculty members are distinguished scholars and devoted teachers who promote an interactive learning environment.

Faculty collaborate one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students on research, scholarship and creative activity, allowing students to experience the excitement of original discovery.

USD’s emphasis on academic excellence, intellectual rigor and global citizenship showcases our commitment to each student. USD offers the intellectual environment that will inspire you to begin shaping your future. By becoming a Torero, you are becoming part of the more than 60-year-long history of dedicated Changemakers.

Our students strive for academic excellence and take great pride in serving their communities. At USD, students learn to think critically, act globally and work collaboratively to achieve their full potential.

USD offers students endless opportunities to connect with the campus, the community, and each other. With nearly 200 clubs and organizations, countless sports and residence hall activities, guest lectures, community service opportunities and wellness programs, Toreros have every resource necessary to maximize their USD experience.

USD has an active, thriving campus community. In addition to its sublime setting — enhanced by an average 300 days of sunshine each year — USD offers students an abundance of academic programs, facilities and resources.

Even to the casual eye, it's apparent that the campus runs like a well-oiled machine, in large part due to our hard working team members, all dedicated to making sure that the USD student experience is reflective of the distinctive quality that the university is known for.

More than 1500 full-time and 750 part-time employees worked at USD in 2011, in capacities ranging from faculty to food service to administration to groundskeeper.

The USD community is comprised of many diverse individuals. To assist with the various aspects of personal and professional development, the university provides various offices, programs and services. Gateways provides links to some of the areas that might be of interest to you.

From the moment you step on our beautiful campus you can see that USD is exceptional.

Picha Mtaani, Swahili for “street exhibition,” is a youth-led peace initiative that seeks to establish a creative space for young people to heal and reconcile following Kenya’s worst election violence on record. The title of this exhibition, “Never Again,” is a call to action, challenging men and women of goodwill to remain vigilant and to demand accountability as a way to secure their peaceful future.

Through the mostly unpublished images in this collection, Picha Mtaani presents the unvarnished truth about a moment of madness when neighbor turned against neighbor, leading to mass killings, countless injuries, and large-scale displacement. Most importantly, they remind us that what is most needed in Kenya is a resolution of the grievances that trigged the electoral violence in the first place. To preview these images online, please visit their website.

About the photographer:

An award-winning and world-renowned Kenyan photographer, Boniface Mwangi became the eye of Kenyans during the 2007-2008 post-election violence. Risking his life, he photographed the atrocities that his fellow Kenyans inflicted on one another. In 2009, the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, commended Mwangi for his important work. In a letter to him she stated, “Your photography is absolutely stunning and tells an important and powerful story for the world to hear.”

Visiting the exhibit: The exhibit is held in the Fine Art Galleries in the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ). If you are visitor to campus, please stop by the kiosk at the west entrance and procure a visitor parking pass. You may then park in any of the white lined spaces on campus, including the garage located under the IPJ. You may also park in the West Lot at the bottom of the hill nearest the kiosk and take the complimentary shuttle to the first stop at the top of the hill, just in front of the IPJ.